Are You Preparing Your Child for Eternity or College?

The more I read and study my Bible the more convicted I am that God holds my husband and me responsible for teaching our children about Him.

“So that you, your children, and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all His decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.”

Deuteronomy 6:2

Still, having being raised in the public school system, I’ve always felt the significance of academics in my life. Making good grades was very important to me: it landed me a full college scholarship, took me to places all over the world, got me into grad school, and played a major role in my self-image. I excelled in school, and as a result, I found satisfaction and personal significance in it.

But then I had children, and God changed my heart. While I want my children to be academically successful, my heart’s desire is for them to truly know God.

As we finish up our first year of homeschooling, I see things I need to change for next year. There are areas in which I need to relax and other areas that I need to be more disciplined in. But most importantly, I see that my # 1 priority — the foundation of our school everything — needs to be teaching my children to fear the Lord God and serve Him only (Deuteronomy 6:13).

When our days are filled with tears and yelling — both mother and children — we need to spend time away from the books and more time in the Book.

When our children are struggling with character issues, then we need to be dealing with those first, putting the 3 R’s away until we all have a better grasp of the fruit of the Spirit.

Our children are only with us for a very short time. What do we want them to leave home with?

A firm foundation in algebra, or a zeal for the Lord?

Beautiful penmanship, or a heart for serving others?

A love of Shakespeare, or a desire to share the Gospel with the lost?

While educating our children to be productive citizens is a worthy goal,an even better one is preparing them to be citizens of Heaven. And how do we do that? By filling them with God’s Word, developing their character, and shaping their wills to align with His.

The Lord desires Godly offspring (Malachi 2:15). As your school year begins to wind down, I urge you to think about how your year and your child’s year have gone. Ask yourself:

Has my child matured spiritually?

Can I see spiritual growth in him/her? Or have some character flaws surfaced that we need to address?

Does my child know the Lord more now than when school started?

Does s/he have a closer relationship with the Lord, or has s/he become more self-reliant/fearful?

Has your child drifted from his/her faith?

And if you made spiritual goals at the beginning of the school year for your child, has s/he met them?

These are questions for parents of any school-age child, whether homeschooled or public/private schooled. Assess the changes in your child over the year, and determine whether your child is progressing, regressing, or staying the same spiritually. Academics are important, but knowing the Lord and making Him known should be what we’re striving for with our children.

I hope you will do some prayerful pondering over the next several weeks. Ask the Lord to show you what He wants you to change, and be willing to step out in faith and make those changes.

You — not the curriculum, the Sunday school teachers, or the school system — are responsible for the education of your child. If you aren’t preparing your child spiritually, who is?

As I gear up for a new school year, the Lord is laying some heavy burdens on my heart. I have some work to do, but I know if He brings me to it, He will see me through it. And He promises to do the same for you.

“We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.”

Psalm 78:4

May God richly bless you and your family,

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Comments

Oh Kerri, you are singing my song!!!! I absolutely love this, and I’m so glad you shared with us! Although academics are important, it’s imperative that we raise our children up in the Lord regardless if we homeschool or not! And it’s so easy for parents to forget this (I know I do), and to focus wholeheartedly on academics or some other aspect of our children’s lives. I’m sharing this!Caroline recently posted…Simplify Easter for Daily Life

This is such an important question. My wife and I homeschooled 3 children through high school. None of them attended a traditional college, but all 3 did attend a Bible school later on and are all now in full-time ministry. I don’t say that we did everything right, but the Lord was gracious to fill in the gaps and I am proud to have 3 children who are serving the Lord so passionately today. Yes, we need to train them for eternity – it is, by far, more important than a higher education!F. Dean Hackett recently posted…The Reward of a Life Well Lived

What an amazing personal testimony! Thank you for sharing that. It’s encouraging to hear that your children have been successful in life. Maybe not in the world’s eyes but certainly in the Lord’s. Thanks so much!

Keri:
I just wanted to share with you 2 scripture passages that the Lord gave me early on in our homeschooling journey. I have a daughter 17, who’ll graduate next year and has started early college and a 7 year old (adopted from Guatemala 6 years ago) who’ll be in the 2nd grade in the Fall. After 10 years of homeschooling, it is easy to forget, get sidetracked, be distracted. Thanks for the reminder.
Galatians 6:7-9, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. and let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
AND (My personal favorite…)
Ecclesiastes 12:12-14
“…further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
Happy planning for the coming year,
Lori

Thank you, Lori, for those two scriptures. I especially love the one from Ecclesiastes. What perfect verses to focus us on God’s priority for man: fearing Him and obeying His commands. Blessings to you this homeschooling year!

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My name is Keri, and I'm a wife & mother of five beautiful girls. My prayer is that this site will encourage & challenge you to grow in each of the roles God has blessed you with.